Disclaimer - I do not own SGA or its Characters. I do own Dr. Orla Grant.
Rated T for violence & threat.
Setting: Season 5 SGA A/U. Carson is alive and Chief Medical Officer of Atlantis but Dr. Keller is on Atlantis. Lt. Laura Cadman now works on the Daedalus & Atlantis. Ronon is paired with O/C Dr. Orla Grant & Rodney is paired with Jennifer.
This story is a continuation from my last, End of Days. It is a continuation of these characters lives and troubles.
This was the story I was asked to write but got side tracked on my last one with whumping too many people! (who doesn't like to whump the characters?)
I'd like to thank bailey1ak for being my friend and Beta.
"I don't know, Orla. It doesn't sound like a good idea, for a start you're …" Lorne began.
"So, help me, Evan, if you try to remind me, I'm pregnant I will…" Orla was getting fed up of the constant reminder of her condition as though she needed reminding. She sighed wearily adding, "I believe you owe me and Jen a favor?"
"I do…?" Evan replied warily.
"Ronon told me about the pool? How I won?" She tried to not ruin the point she was making by actually being amused at the idea of the pool he'd organised.
"He did?"
"He did… so?"
"Sir, Jennifer and I will be there so we'll have Orla covered medically and security wise but it's getting the Puddle Jumper actually moving that's the issue. It's a little difficult for Orla to reach the controls these days."
Evan sighed; he knew when he was defeated. He should say no, but he always had trouble saying no to the women in front of him. "The Amigo's on the mainland," he groaned.
"Technically no, Sir. Teyla's on New Athos, but we could make you an honorary Amigo for the day, Sir?" Cadman offered desperately trying to not smirk at the Major. The four women had been nicknamed The Amigos by Colonel Sheppard some time ago when the Orb of Ancients had activated on Atlantis. It reverted all the women at Katie Brown's birthday party back to aged 15. Because of the four women's madcap antics during this time which resulted in driving Sheppard, Ronon, Woolsey, Lorne, McKay and Carson to the edge of their patience. So, the Colonel had named them The Amigo's. Another nickname that had stuck.
"If, Mr. Woolsey agrees then, alright. But we do as Dr. Keller says, no more than two hours away then home and you explain to Ronon where you went and how much you pressured us to go. Try to remind the big guy I've only just recovered and would really appreciate not heading right back into the infirmary," Lorne said resignedly.
Orla and Laura left Major Lorne's quarters and headed for the gate room. Laura turned and stopped Orla in her tracks.
"Okay, this next bit is down to you, Orla. I'm not going to have Ronon find out I went to Mr. Woolsey asking to take you away. I want him grateful I went with you. Ronon and I have become good friends now and besides I don't want him making our friendship, difficult."
"He wouldn't, Laura. He might scowl but he wouldn't stop us from being friends."
"I still think if you really need to do this, Mr. Woolsey is all yours. I'll be back in my quarters," she turned and hugged Orla. Releasing her she turned the scientist towards the direction of the gate room. "Of you go, Prof."
Orla knocked on Richard Woolsey's office and waited for him to acknowledge her presence.
"Dr. Grant, please, take a seat. How can I help? You're alright, aren't you? There's nothing wrong with the baby?" Woolsey asked apprehensively getting to his feet.
"We're both fine, Sir. I… I just have a request, if I can?"
"Very well, take a seat," Woolsey moved away from his desk and guided Orla to a nearby chair.
"I'd like to visit the mainland. Before you say no, I wanted to add that should you say yes, you're not breaking any promises to Ronon or going against Dr. Beckett's orders. Ronon doesn't want me taking part in off-world missions. This isn't off world it's the mainland so technically… outside, just a little further away outside. There will be no need to go through any Stargates, there'll be no Wraith, no Ancient devices. In fact, I'd be further away from them than I am right now," Orla knew she was waffling but she was trying to make him see the lack of any real danger. She quickly continued, "Katie Brown's team were on the mainland last week, they discovered what she claimed were old walls covered in writing. Possibly a ruin at some point but all that remained were the walls. Someone needs to check this out and Dr. McKay is too busy."
"To the best of my knowledge, Dr. Grant you're not a linguist."
"No, but this would be information gathering and to be honest, its important, just not enough to waste Dr. McKay's time…"
Richard held his hand up ceasing her, "Dr. Grant, if these walls really are that important then maybe we really should send a linguist."
"Dr. Lindsay has a full schedule as it is. I could retrieve the information for her…"
"If that's the case Dr. Grant then surely someone else could retrieve the information?"
"Not really, Sir. They have to know what to retrieve and how to catalogue the information correctly for a proper translation." Orla replied fearing she was losing the argument.
"Then I will arrange for Dr. Zelenka to visit the mainland next week." Woolsey declared.
"That's the problem, Radek's' covering both of our off-world obligations as well as his normal work load, he's exhausted," well he looks tired she thought. "This is a straight forward retrieval mission we'd be back in just a few hours and we can keep in radio contact at all times. Major Lorne can fly the Puddle Jumper?"
"We discussed your off-world duties when you discovered you were pregnant. I seem to remember both Ronon and I were in agreement that you shouldn't endanger your unborn child's life."
"Do you really think I would!" Orla said a little indigent. "This is not off-world, Sir. It's over there, a little bit," she raised her arm pointing outwards. "I didn't come to Atlantis to be shut away, Mr. Woolsey."
"Then maybe you should have thought about that before you got pregnant," Woolsey instantly regretted his words the moment he said them but he wasn't fond of allowing a pregnant member of his staff outside of the safety of Atlantis.
"I shouldn't be punished for being pregnant, either, Sir." Orla bit back.
"You're quite right, I apologise for my choice of words. It appears you have it all sorted Dr. Grant. You however seem to have missed the most obvious issue," Woolsey sighed.
"Ronon?"
"Ronon."
"I'm just doing my job, Sir. I need to be able to do that. I'm pregnant Mr. Woolsey not dying."
"I understand Dr. Grant, but you are technically now on maternity leave."
He was right and she knew it but she continued to push the point anyway. "I have another month before the baby is due and there isn't a whole lot to do on Atlantis with that much down time. It will be different when the baby arrives but right now, between the walls, lack of fresh air and a job nobody wants me doing I'm going a little crazy."
"Just who do you suggest accompanies you on this … retrieval."
"Dr. Keller is willing to go so that's this one covered," she stroked her unborn child. "Major Lorne to fly the Puddle Jumper, he has the gene and well, I can't exactly reach the controls at the moment. Then there is Lieutenant Cadman, she said …"
"Cadman … you do surprise me," Woolsey exclaimed sarcastically. "To be quite honest Dr. Grant. The idea of you and Dr. Keller together outside of Atlantis has alarm bells ringing at the mere mention of it. What about Teyla?"
"What about Teyla? She's still at New Athos."
"So, this isn't the gathering of the Amigos?"
Orla blushed at the nickname; she was about to speak when Woolsey held up his hand effectively silencing her.
"If Ronon finds out…. when Ronon finds out," Richard corrected himself.
"I'll deal with Ronon." Orla quickly replied.
"The fact you're requesting this trip while Ronon is off-world is just coincidence then?"
"Sometimes it's better to tell Ronon after the fact, that way, he has to deal with it rather than trying to win a confrontation with him." Orla admitted.
"Something tells me Dr. Grant you have this all sorted. If I say no then your prime objective for being on Atlantis fails. As you say, you're only going to the mainland not off-world," he sighed knowing he was about to regret his decision. "I want radio contact every 30 minutes and I want the whole team back in Atlantis within 3 hours of your departure, am I clear, Dr. Grant?"
"Why are we going to these negotiations without Teyla?" McKay griped as he trudged behind Colonel Sheppard.
"Because, she's on New Athos attending a funeral for an Elder." Sheppard answered.
"I know that, what I mean is why are we three going and not waiting for Teyla to return?"
"Because we need to keep the lines of communication open and the ruling Governor's invited us to take part in their spring harvest celebrations. If we play nice, the negotiations later with Teyla will run smoother. Atlantis needs new trading partners." Sheppard explained.
"You mean I left my vital work and laboratory for a party?" McKay squawked.
"Couldn't you have gotten Lorne to cover this detail Sheppard? I don't like leaving Orla so close to the baby's birth, especially if this isn't even the negotiation." Ronon muttered.
"I get it, Ronon, I do, but Lorne's going to be covering you when the baby arrives which isn't for another month so try to be patient big guy. Just think of this as an exercise in expanding your social skills." Sheppard chuckled to himself.
"Ronon and social skills? Have you met Ronon, Sheppard? Besides, I thought you wanted the negotiations to go well!" McKay quipped sarcastically.
"I am here you know," Ronon growled loudly reminding the scientist of his presence.
"Make sure that gun of yours is set to stun, Ronon, that's an order!" Sheppard quickly demanded.
Ronon re-set his particle gun, the familiar whine covering his mutterings, "how many tava beans can you need?"
Major Evan Lorne settled himself into the Puddle Jumpers' pilot seat. He began running through the pre-flight sequences when he heard the chatter coming from the women boarding the jumper.
"How many bags are you bringing, Jen?" Cadman asked looking at the rucksacks scattered on the Puddle Jumpers' floor.
"We can't be too careful, not with Orla's luck. I've packed for the normal types of injuries then added what Orla and the baby might need," Keller replied as she stacked the bags away.
"Such as?" Orla said from behind the doctor.
"Portable foetal monitor, few medications for high blood pressure, you know maternity stuff." Keller said offhandedly.
"Maternity stuff, wow, Jen, blind us with science," Laura teased.
"Look I just don't think Lorne wants an in-depth catalogue of everything a pregnant woman needs and their uses," Keller blushed.
"It's okay, doc. I'm all grown up now, I even know where babies come from and everything," Lorne couldn't contain the laughter watching Jennifer put her hands on her hips and glare at Lorne.
"Seriously, what did I do to deserve friends like all of you?" Jennifer snapped trying to appear insulted.
"Come on, Jen, you know you love us really," Laura smirked gently elbowing Jennifer in the ribs making the young doctor laugh and lose her pretence. "Come on Prof, let's get you all buckled up."
"Buckled up? I'm not twelve, besides there are no seatbelts," Orla replied as she settled into the rear passenger chair.
"Figure of speech. Everything stowed away, cool, guess that means we're ready to rock and roll," Laura grinned.
"Cadman, you are aware you're in the military and not about to go on a boozy night out?" Lorne starred at the red head seated beside him.
"Yes, Sir."
"Alright, everyone ready?" Lorne activated his radio, "flight, this is Puddle Jumper one we're ready for go."
"Puddle Jumper one, this is flight, Mr. Woolsey has asked me to remind you of the timing agreement. You're cleared for go," Chuck announced from the gate room.
"Thank you, flight. Please relay my understanding to Mr. Woolsey," Lorne replied as he started the engines to the Puddle Jumper. "Sit back ladies, we are about take-off and head for the mainland. Orla, I better not regret this!"
A/N - The story behind The Orb of The Ancients is called A Return To Childhood.
TBC - Please read & Review...